I had been asked to play the saxophone in a band which was going to be giving a
performance this very day. I had agreed to play even though I was
unsure I would be able to master the songs in time. Now I was
desperately trying to prepare my instrument. I needed to attach
some small silver rings (each about a half centimeter in diameter)
onto my saxophone. With a pincher-like tool, I busily extracted the rings from a container
and I attached the rings to the instrument. I
was in a big hurry because I still needed to practice the tunes
which the band would be playing tonight. I wasn't even sure
yet what I would be wearing. Should I put on a pin-stripped suit
with a white shirt? Or would that be too formal? I was unsure.

Another member in the band was
sitting not far from me. He was young (only about 20 years old) and had black hair. He was going through some motions
as if he were playing the drums (obviously he was the drummer). I
became somewhat entranced by his motions and I tried to pick up his
beat, imagining my playing the saxophone along with him.
I felt so unprepared; the whole performance might turn out to be
a disaster.

One song we would be
playing today began going through my head. I began remembering
the words and the tune, singing in my mind, "Oh you ain't got a thing if you ain't got that swing."

I wondered what it would be
like if instead of a band with different instruments, everyone
played the saxophone, and everyone only played one note. I went
over the refrain, "Oh you ain't got a thing
" imagining each saxophone player playing just one
note, each player playing after the other. It would be
interesting; but it would be difficult to keep the tempo. A
conductor would probably be necessary.